3D printing, the colloquial name for Additive Manufacturing,
is a manufacturing technique of creating a digital blueprint with the help of
Computer Aided Design (CAD) or animation software to create a solid, physical
object. It was even mentioned by President Obama in his 2013 State of the Union
Address as a truly transformative technology having the potential to
revolutionise the world. 3D printing allows the conversion of ideas from
fiction to fact. It uses a layer-by –layer approach for creating prototypes,
spare parts and final products. It has been around for around thirty years now
but is only just beginning to scratch the surface of its true potential in the
21st century.

The desire to improve manufacturing efficiency, productivity
and quality is the main 3D printing Enabled Augmented Manufacturing Market
driver. Companies that are deploying it aren’t just replacing machines, but
redesigning the entire production line. This makes the work more efficient,
fast, simple, accurate and profitable. Lead time reductions and cost savings
can be enormous. The second driver of the 3D printing Enabled Augmented
Manufacturing Market is the wider range of materials available for use which
boosts its appeal to several industries. 3D printers have used materials like
advanced nickel alloy, glass, carbon fibre, conductive ink, pharmaceuticals,
electronics, and biological materials. These products can then be used in
fields as diverse as aerospace & defence, medical, automotive, energy and
the military.

The U.S. is anticipated to be the largest 3D printing
Enabled Augmented Manufacturing Market due to its global pre-eminence as a
manufacturing hub. It is particularly dominant in industries like aerospace
& defence, automobile manufacturing and medical device equipment and
healthcare, all of which use 3D printing to a greater extent. China, Japan, and
South Korea will drive the demand in the coming decade due to robust
manufacturing industries and strong government support.